whitney



No. 62l,883. v Patented Mar. 28, 1899. c. WHITNEY & -A. c. LAZARUS. BICYCLE GEAR.

(Application med 0ct.-16, 1 896.)

(No Model.) w M 5 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSES: 4 v

' BY ArmR/vEy No. 62l,883. Patented Mar. 28, I899.

C. WHITNEY 81. A. c. LAZARUS.

BICYCLE GEAR.

I (Application Med 0015. 16. 1896.)

5 SheetsSheet 2.

IIVI/ENTORSH ATTORNEYS.

THE cams PETERS 120.. PHOYO-Ll'l'fick. WASHINGTON. n. c,

No. 62|,883. Patented Mar. 28,1899, 0. WHITNEY 8. A. G. LAZA RUS.

BICYCLE GEAR. (Application filed Oct. 16, 1896.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3'.

(No Model.)

INVENTORS.

WITNESSES m E N M U A m: mums PEFERS co.. wnormuruov wnsnmn'ron, o. c.

No. 62|,883. Patented Mar. 28, I899.

C. WHITNEY A. C. LAZARUS.

BICYCLE GEAR.

(Application filed Oct. [6, 1896.\ (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTORB.

WITNESSES: a. 655

W ATTORNEYS.

ms Nonms PETERS 00., Imcn'm-Ln-no.v WASHINGTON, n z;

Patented Mar, 28, I899. C. WHITNEY 8|. A. C. LAZARUS.

B-iGYCLE GEAR. (A ppfication filed. Oct. 16, 1896.)

5 Shasta-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

Tu: uanms Pzrms co. woroumou WASHINGTON, o. c.

of the improvement.

- UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCEs BICYCLE-G EAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,883, dated March 28, 1899.

Application filed October 16, 1896.

T0 00% whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, OEPHAS WHITNEY and ALFRED CONSTANTINE LAZARUS, residing at Kingston, Jamaica, have invented a new and Improved Bicycle-Gear, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bicycle-gear which is simple and durable in construction and arranged in such a manner that the pedal and crank-hanger constantly change during each revolution to keep the thrust exerted by the rider on the pedal approximately at right angles, so as to insure a full utilization of the power exerted.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form Fig. is an end elevation of'the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of part of the cam-race, the crank, and pedal. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig 7 is a face view of a modified form of cam and link. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the same on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of a modified form of the same. Fig. 10 is a side elevation, with parts broken out, of a modified form of the improvement. Fig. 11 is an end view of the same with parts in section. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of another modified form of the improvement. Fig. 13 is an end view of the same. Fig. 14. is a cross-section of part of the same on the line 1 L 1-1 of Fig. 12; and Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional plan view of one of the crank arms on the line 15 15 of Fig. 12.

In the crank hanger or bracket A of the bicycle-frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is mounted to turn a crank-shaft 13, carrying at its ends the cranks 0, extending in opposite directions in the usual manner. On the outer end of each crank C is mounted a shaft Serial No. 609,090. (No model.)

or pivot-pin D, supporting a pedal E near one end thereof, as plainly shown in the drawings, the said pedal being provided near its outer end with a roller F, adapted to engagea cam-race G, secured by suitable brackets G to the front lower brace A and arms A A A extending from the said brace A the rear lower brace A and thecenter brace A, respectively, as plainly indicated in the drawings. The two cam-races G for the two pedals are also connected witheach other by suitable stay-rods G On the upper end of the cam-race G is secured or formed an inwardly and downwardly extending spring G, adapted to be engaged by the roller F at the time the pedal 0 is in an uppermost position, so'that the pedal stands horizontally, or approximately so. When the rider exerts a downward and forward pressure on the pedal E, then the roller F cushions on the spring G and travels up the same, while the crank 0 travels in the direction of the arrow a. When the roller F nears the uppermost end of the spring G, then the pedal E has swung upward relatively to the crank O, and the pedal is now locked to the said crank O to form an extension therefor, the said pedal being for this purpose provided with a hook H, adapted to engage a lug 0, formed on an extension 0 projecting outwardly from the front end of the crank O. The hook H is fulcrumed at H, at or near the middle of the pedal E, and is pressed on by a spring, so as to hold the hook in engagement with the lug 0. During the further movement of the crank O the roller F travels down the segmentalpart of the race G, but not in contact, because of the rising at G and when the roller F finally leaves the lever end of the segmentalpart of the race it enters the race G which causes another swinging of the pedal E in an outward direction relatively to the crank, so as to move the hook I-I into engagement with the lug 0 formed on the extension O the lug C standing approximately at right angles to the lug C. The pedal E now stands again at angles to the crank O, and during the movement of the roller F in the last or lower part of the cam-race G remainsin this position, but not in contact with the cam-race, until it comes again in contact with the same at G and owing to the rising at the beginning of the last or lower part of the cam-race. hen the crank O finally swings upward on the return stroke, then the pedal is pushed forward again to finally assume the position in Fig. 1 at the time the crank (J is in an uppermost position. The free end of the spring G is adapted to engage buffers G7 G to relieve the pedal E of sudden shocks and jars.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, the crank-shaft 13 carries on each end a crank C, in the free end of which is journaled by a suitable ball bearing a transversely-extending shaft D, on which is fastened the pedal E by means of suitable set-screws E (See Figs. 5 and 6.) On the inner end of the shaft D is secured an arm I, pivotally connected by a ball-bearing with a link J, carrying at its free end a roller F, mounted to travel in a cam-race G, supported from the frame part-s of the bicycle-frame A The roller F is of the ball-bearing kind, the ball-bearing being of a suitable construction, such as indicated in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Now it will be seen that when the rider engages the pedal E and presses the same the said pedal is controlled in its motion from the cam-race G by the roller F and the link J, acting on the arm I, secured to the shaft D, on which the pedal is securely fastened. Thus the pedal E will form an extension to the crank C during the downstroke of the crank C, so that the power exerted by the rider is utilized through the downstroke of the said crank.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the crank-shaft 13 carries the cranks 0, each of which is provided in its outer end with a transversely-extending shaft D sup porting an arm D 011 which the pedal E is journaled. The inner end of the shaft D carries a gear-wheel K in mesh with an intermediate gear-wheel K, mounted to turn on a stud held on the crank C The intermediate gear-wheel K is in mesh with and rolls off on a gear-wheel K secured to a fixed part of the bicycle-frame and concentric to the crank-shaft B Now when the crank-shaft is rotated by the operator pressing the pedals E then the gear-wheel K, by rolling off on the fixed gear-wheel K is rotated and rotates the gear-wheel K and shaft D and thereby brings the pedals into the most advantageous positions. During the downstroke the arm D will form an extension for the cranks 0 so that the thrust exerted by the rider is utilized to the fullest advantage. The gearing and the cranks C are preferably inclosed in a suitable housing L, as shown in the drawings.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 12 to 15 the crank-shaft B journaled in the bicycle-frame A, carries on each end a crank C, in the free end of which is journaled the transversely-extendin g shaft D on the outer end of which is secured an arm D carrying at its free end the pedal E. On the end ofthe said shaft D is secured an arm D at right angles to the arm D and the said arm D is pivotally connected with an eccentric-rod N, projecting from an eccentric-strap N, mounted to turn by ball-bearings on an eccentricdisk N mounted to turn on the hub N of a plate N, secured by flanges N to the bicycleframe A. The eccentric-disk N is adapted to be secured on the plate N by a screw-pin N, screwing in the disk N and adapted to engage one of a series of apertures on the fixed plate N (See dotted lines, Fig. 12.) Set screws N also fasten the hub of the plate in position. A swinging motion given to the eccentric-rod N causes the strap N to turn on the fixed disk N as the center. Now it will be seen that when the rider exerts a downward pressure on the pedal E and the crank C swings downward then the position of the pedal E is changed relatively to the crank by the action of the eccentric-strap N and rod N on the arm D rigidly connected with the shaft D carrying the pedal E.

In order to prevent the arm D and pedal E from turning in the wrong direction at the time the crank-arm C and the arm D stand cxactly at a right-angle positionrthat is, when the crank-arm moves into a lowermost or uppermost vertical positionwe provide a temporary locking device. (Shown in Figs. 12 and 15.) This locking device consists of a bolt 0, fitted to slide longitudinally in the crank-arm C and pressed on by a spring 0 to hold the head 0 of the said bolt in an outermost position. The head 0 is formed with an incline 0 leading to a recess 0, and the said incline O is engaged by aroller P just previous to the crank-arm 0 moving into a lowermost position and by a roller P just previous to the said crank arm moving into an uppermost position.

The rollers P I? are held diametrically opposite each other on the arm D, as plainly shown in Fig. 12. Either roller P P when passing up the incline 0 causes an inward sliding of the bolt 0, and a compressing of the spring 0, and after the roller passes the outer end of the incline it drops into the recess 0 at the time the crank-arm stands in a vertical lowermost or uppermost position. Thus the arm D, and consequently the shaft D and the arm D carrying the pedal E, are locked temporarily in position to prevent the said arm D from being turned farther around in the direction it previously had. Thus the pedal E travels in the path a and the crankarm C in the path I), both paths being indicated by dotted lines.

It is understood that by the arrangement described extended crank-arms are produced in which the extended part is always at right angles to a line drawn through the center of the eccentric-disk N and the center of the crank-shaft B The angular movements of the pedal relative to the crank-arm are always controlled by the eccentric and a great leverage is obtained without causing the rider to move the foot through a large circle, as will be evident by comparing the paths a and b. The extension takes place only during the downward stroke of the crank-arm C and during the upstroke the arm D and its pedal fold inward, as indicated in the dotted-line position, Fig. 12.

Having thus described our invention, We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A bicycle-gear comprising a crank-shaft provided with cranks, a shaft journaled in the outer end of each crank, a pedal carried by the said shaft, means for positively turning the said shaft to change the position of the pedal relatively to the crank and to form an extension for the latter, and a temporary locking device for the pedal, substantially as shown and described. i

2. A bicycle-gear,comprising a crank-shaft, a crank secured thereon, a shaft journaled in the free end of each crank, an arm on said shaft carrying a pedal, an arm extending from the shaft at right angles to said shaft, an cecentric having its disk fixed to the bicycleframe and its eccentric-rod connected with the said shaft-arm, and a temporary lockin g device for the said arm, substantially as described.

33. A bicycle-gear comprising a crank-shaft provided with cranks, a shaft journaled in the free end of each crank, an arm on the outer end of the shaft, a pedal carried at the free end of said arm, an arm extending from the shaft at right angles thereto, an eccentric having its disk fixed to the bicycle-frame and its eccentric-rod pivotally connected with the said arm extending at right angles to the shaft, and a temporary locking device for the said arm, substantially as described.

CEPHAS WHITNEY. ALFRED CONSTANTINE LAZARUS.

Witnesses to the signatu re of Cephas VVhitney:

THEO. G. HOSTER, JAMES M. HENLEY. Witnesses to the signature of Alfred Laz arus:

SAMUEL HENRY TURPIN, VIVIAN PINNocK BAILEY. 

